WorldSSP: Bendsneyder Tops Superpole Despite Crash

The 2025 WorldSSP season Kicks Off with Thrilling Action at Phillip Island, with Bo Bendsneyder celebrating his first-ever pole position.

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The 2025 FIM Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP) season roared to life at Phillip Island, Australia, with an action-packed Tissot Superpole session on Friday afternoon. Dutch rider Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) claimed pole position despite a dramatic crash, setting the stage for a highly competitive opening race weekend.

Bendsneyder dominated the session with a blistering lap time of 1’32.310s, securing the top spot before a highside crash at Turn 2 ended his session prematurely. The incident sent him and his bike into the gravel, and he was taken to the medical center for evaluation. Despite the crash, his time remained unbeaten, highlighting his pace and determination.

The session showcased the depth of talent in the WorldSSP field, with 14 riders finishing within a second of Bendsneyder’s pole time. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) continued his strong form from free practice, securing second place with a time of 1,32.499s. This marks his first front-row start in WorldSSP, a significant milestone for the British rider.

2017 WorldSSP Champion Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) made a late charge to claim third place with a time of 1,32.635s, earning his first podium position since Round 2 of the previous season. Turkish rider Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Racing Team) also impressed, jumping to fourth place with a lap of 1,32.644s in the closing minutes of the session.

Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse), who had been a consistent frontrunner throughout testing and free practice, slipped to fifth after late improvements from Mahias and Oncu. Meanwhile, Spanish rookie Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) delivered a solid performance, finishing sixth with a time of 1,32.765s.

Free Practice Drama: Toba Crashes, Farioli Injured

Earlier in the day, free practice saw its share of drama. Valentin Debise topped the timesheets, followed closely by Booth-Amos and Bendsneyder. However, the session was marred by a crash involving Kaito Toba, who lost control at Turn 11 during Superpole, and a serious incident involving Filippo Farioli.

Farioli suffered a highside crash at Turn 9 after an engine issue caused his bike to spill oil on the track. The Italian rider was diagnosed with a broken left ankle, sidelining him for the weekend. The incident also forced track officials to work extensively to clean the spilt oil.

With Bendsneyder in the pole position and a tightly packed grid, the opening race of the 2025 WorldSSP season promises to be a thrilling spectacle. Riders will return to the track on Saturday for the final free practice, followed by Race 1, where the battle for early championship points will intensify.

Top 6 from WorldSSP Superpole:

• Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) – 1’32.310s
• Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) – +0.189s
• Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) – +0.325s
• Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) – +0.334s
• Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) – +0.414s
• Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) – +0.455s